Cochlear implants for mumps deafness: two paediatric cases.

BACKGROUND: Good outcomes have been reported regarding the use of cochlear implants for mumps deafness. The mumps virus induces meningitis and/or encephalitis, which can cause central nervous system damage resulting in retrolabyrinthine hearing loss, for which a cochlear implant would be less effective. CASES: We installed a cochlear implant in two patients with bilateral mumps deafness; one achieved a good result with the cochlear implant, but the other did not. We discuss two possible reasons for the different outcomes. Case 1 was a three-year-old girl with bilateral parotid swelling, vomiting and walking disorder. One year after cochlear implant insertion, speech perception did not develop despite of good pure tone thresholds. Case 2 was an eight-year-old girl with bilateral parotid swelling. A cochlear implant enabled her to improve hearing perception. CONCLUSION: Although cochlear implants have been reported to be helpful for mumps deafness, cases that involve central nervous system damage may not achieve good results.

Bidirectional modulation of P2X receptor-mediated response by divalent cations in rat dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus neurons.

The modulatory effects of Zn(2+) and other divalent cations on the ATP-induced responses of preganglionic neurons acutely dissociated from the rat dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) were examined using a nystatin-perforated patch technique under voltage-clamp. DMV neurons were identified by back-filling of DiI placed on the vagal bundle at the neck. Zn(2+) exerts a concentration-dependent effect on P2X receptor-mediated current (I(ATP)): a potentiation by low concentrations of Zn(2+) (< or = 50 microM) and an inhibition by high concentrations (> 50 microM). Inhibition of the ATP response was associated with a prolongation of the rising phase of I(ATP). Cu(2+) mimicked Zn(2+) regarding the biphasic modulation of I(ATP). On the other hand, Ni(2+) potentiated, but failed to inhibit, the ATP response even at a concentration of 3 mM. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed the similarity of P2X(2) mRNA expression between the DMV and superior cervical ganglion (SCG) but not in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and hypoglossal nucleus (XII). The results from the electrophysiological and molecular approaches suggest that functional P2X receptors expressed in DMV neurons are characterized mainly by the P2X(2) and P2X(2/6) subtype. DMV neurons possess similar P2X receptor characteristics to SCG neurons.

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome involving the middle ear: clinical case report and discussion.

Multiple organ system involvement is seen in the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). Cardiovascular, lung and upper airway, liver, spleen, skin and nervous systems are frequently involved. In this article, we describe two cases of HES involving the middle ear and lung. In both cases, the histological pictures showed an increase of eosinophils in the tissue of the tympanic cavity.

Reversibility and cation selectivity of the K(+)-Cl(-) cotransport in rat central neurons.

The reversibility and cation selectivity of the K(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter (KCC), which normally extrudes Cl(-) out of neurons, was investigated in dissociated lateral superior olive neurons of rats using the gramicidin perforated patch technique. Intracellular Cl(-) activity (alpha[Cl(-)](i)) was maintained well below electrochemical equilibrium as determined from the extracellular Cl(-) activity and the holding potential, where the pipette and external solutions contained 150 mM K(+) ([K(+)](pipette)) and 5 mM K(+) ([K(+)](o)), respectively. Extracellular application of 1 mM furosemide or elevated [K(+)](o) increased alpha[Cl(-)](i). When the pipette solution contained 150 mM Cs(+) ([Cs(+)](pipette)), alpha[Cl(-)](i) increased to a value higher than the passive alpha[Cl(-)](i). An increase of alpha[Cl(-)](i) with the [Cs(+)](pipette) was not due to the simple blockade of net KCC by the intracellular Cs(+) since alpha[Cl(-)](i), with the pipette solution containing 75 mM Cs(+) and 75 mM K(+), reached a value between those obtained using the [K(+)](pipette) and the [Cs(+)](pipette). The higher-than-passive alpha[Cl(-)](i) with the [Cs(+)](pipette) was reduced by 1 mM furosemide, but not by 20 microM bumetanide or Na(+)-free external solution, indicating that the accumulation of [Cl(-)](i) in the [Cs(+)](pipette) was mediated by a KCC operating in a reversed mode rather than by Na(+)-dependent, bumetanide-sensitive mechanisms. Replacement of K(+) in the pipette solution with either Li(+) or Na(+) mimicked the effect of Cs(+) on alpha[Cl(-)](i). On the other hand, Rb(+) mimicked K(+) in the pipette solution. These results indicate that K(+) and Rb(+), but not Cs(+), Li(+), or Na(+), can act as substrates of KCC in LSO neurons.

Regulation of intracellular chloride by cotransporters in developing lateral superior olive neurons.

The regulatory mechanisms of intracellular Cl- concentration ([Cl-]i) were investigated in the lateral superior olive (LSO) neurons of various developmental stages by taking advantage of gramicidin perforated patch recording mode, which enables neuronal [Cl-]i measurement. Responses to glycine changed from depolarization to hyperpolarization during the second week after birth, resulting from [Cl-]i decrease. Furosemide equally altered the [Cl-]i of both immature and mature LSO neurons, indicating substantial contributions of furosemide-sensitive intracellular Cl- regulators; i.e., K+-Cl- cotransporter (KCC) and Na+-K+-Cl- cotransporter (NKCC), throughout this early development. Increase of extracellular K+ concentration and replacement of intracellular K+ with Cs+ resulted in [Cl-]i elevation at postnatal days 13-15 (P13-P15), but not at P0-P2, indicating that the mechanism of neuronal Cl- extrusion is sensitive to both furosemide and K+-gradient and poorly developed in immature LSO neurons. In addition, removal of extracellular Na+ decreased [Cl-]i at P0-P2, suggesting the existence of extracellular Na+-dependent and furosemide-sensitive Cl- accumulation in immature LSO neurons. These data show clearly that developmental changes of Cl- cotransporters alter [Cl-]i and are responsible for the switch from the neonatal Cl- efflux to the mature Cl- influx in LSO neurons. Such maturational changes in Cl- cotransporters might have the important functional roles for glycinergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission and the broader implications for LSO and auditory development.

Na+,K+-ATPase activity in cultured bovine retinal pigment epithelium.

PURPOSE: To characterize electrogenic Na+,K+-ATPase activity in cultured bovine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). METHODS: Cultured bovine RPE cells from passages 3 through 5 were dissociated enzymatically. Na+,K+-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase)-activated currents (Ip) were measured by using a nystatin perforated-patch recording technique under voltage- clamp conditions. In the presence of suitable blockers for known voltage-dependent Na+, K+, and Ca2+ conductances, the Ip was activated in a concentration-dependent manner by adding K to the external solution. RESULTS: The median effective concentration (EC50) and Hill coefficient for external K+ concentration ([K+]o) were 1.06 mM and 2.55, respectively. The Ip showed no significant voltage dependency. A large outward shift of holding current was observed when [Na+]o, was removed. In the presence of [Na+]o, the addition of K+ to the external solution induced Ip, even when the internal solution did not contain Na+, suggesting the existence of a continuous Na+ influx across the plasma membrane in the presence of [Na+]o,. When Na+ was removed from the external and internal solutions, a transient Ip was observed, indicating that the transient Ip was activated by the intracellular residual Na+. The Ip was concentration-dependently suppressed by ouabain. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value and Hill coefficient for ouabain were 5.98 microM and 1.12, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study is the first to reported the functional properties of electrogenic Na+,K+-ATPase activity in cultured bovine RPE.

Characterization of the electrogenic Na+ -K+ pump in bipolar cells isolated from carp retina.

The electrogenic Na+ -K+ pump current (Ip) in carp bipolar cells was investigated under voltage-clamp conditions. The Ip was activated in a concentration-dependent manner by adding external K+ (Ko+) and was completely suppressed with 10(-4) M ouabain (EC50=1.23 mM; Hill coefficient=1.36). The Ip was suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner by ouabain (IC50=1.90 mM; Hill coefficient=0.93). The Ip did not show a distinct voltage dependency either with or without Na(o)+. A large outward shift of the holding current was observed by completely removing Na(o)+. In the presence of Na(o)+, a steady Ip was observed even in the absence of internal Na+ (Na(i)+). These results suggest that continuous Na+ influxes exist across the membrane. When external and internal Na+ was removed, a transient Ip was observed (half decay time (t1/2) was 5.0+/-0.6 s), thus indicating that the transient Ip was activated by the residual Na(i)+. In the absence of Na(o)+, the transient Ip was also observed with lower than 8 mM Na(i)+. The t1/2 depended on Na(i)+. However, a steady Ip was observed with 10 mM Na(i)+ or more. The functional properties of the Ip are discussed.

[Clinical characteristics of the lung diseases due to Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare classified by DNA probe test].

Clinical characteristics of the lung diseases due to M. avium and M. intracellulare classified by DNA probe test were investigated. Between M. avium and M. intracellulare, there was no significant differences in the samples' backgrounds and the clinical characteristics except for their prognoses. The prognosis of the lung diseases due to M. intracellulare was better than those due to M. avium, and M. avium was revealed to be highly susceptible to Cyclocerine than M. intracellulare. No remarkable difference was found in the susceptibility to other antituberculous drugs.